CIS Prayer: October Update

[CarlaSun@aol.com]

Dear Prayer Partners,

It was has been far too long since you have heard from us.   I have written e-mails to you all in my mind many, many times in the last couple of months.   There has been so much going on, and not much time to sit down and get to type out a note.   However, I decided that today, I must get it done.

I have the privilege of writing to you from the Youth Center (Dachas) just south of Moscow.   We have had 70 students in a worship class here this week.   As I write, they are taking their final exams.   We have had a week where we have been blessed by the presence of God's Holy Spirit.   Philip Hamner, Pastor of Overland Park Church of the Nazarene in Kansas City has been our professor.   God has used him in a mighty way to teach and minister to this class.   The climax was a beautiful worship service we had yesterday morning which was planned and carried out by the students.   This is the largest single class we have ever had and God has blessed it in a mighty way.

After lunch about 30 of these students will leave, and this afternoon 30 more people will arrive.   We begin our annual Pastor's Conference this evening with Dr. and Mrs. Alex Deasley here with us.   We are anticipating a great time!   As of last week we were expecting 91 at our Pastor's meeting which would really max out the facility.   Several have had difficulties getting here so it looks like there will be 81 of us.   Please be in prayer this weekend that God will use this time to really speak and minister to the leaders of this Field -- that God will use them to continue to build His kingdom here in the CIS.

Carla and the girls arrived back in Moscow in early September, with Chuck just arriving back last week.   It's been a busy time.   We were able to get moved into the new Field Office apartment just a couple of weeks ago.   It is not all finished, but we are moved.   The office section will still require several months of work for it to be completed so please keep this in your prayers.   However, just moving closer to Moscow First Church has been a real blessing!

Seven students have been here this week from Armenia.   We praise God for what is happening in Armenia.   We have our first ever Work and Witness team there just a few weeks ago.   Maggie Bailey from PLNU and a group of people from southern California helped to work on our first property in Akhuryan, Armenia.   Our new pastor, Seyran and his wife, Anna are here at the class.   The building needs at least 2 more work and witness teams next year -- if anyone is interested!   It's a great place to visit, and you even get to see Mt. Ararat!

A congregation in Yerevan has decided to join the Church of the Nazarene.   Their young pastor and wife are also here at the class this week.   They got married about 10 days at the govt. office.   All the churches in the area refused to give them a church wedding them because they were part of the "Nazarenes."   Karen, the leader in Armenia, shared this with us this week.   The folks here have all pulled together and it looks like tomorrow we'll have a wedding right out here at our Pastor's Conference.   They are so thrilled.   Tanya, Pastor from Moscow 1st is sharing her wedding dress with the young lady.   Cakes, flowers and candles will be coming out today.   God is good.

An incredible group of students has been here this week from Ukraine.   It is thrilling to see what God is doing in the lives of these people, many of whom were former alcoholilcs or drug addicts.   One brand new congregation is represented here this week, people whom we had never met before, and yet, are already a great part of our church family.   

A great group of young people came down from St. Petersburg.   It's interesting to hear about the different stories of different peoples' lives.   Most of these young people are the only Christians in their homes.   They have parents who are alcoholics and who may at times even beat them.   The only bright spot in their lives is the church.   Some have been coming to classes for a couple of years now and it's wonderful to see how they are changing, maturing, and softening.   They take home with them new skills to lead worship in their church.   God will really use them.

Volgograd also brought a great group of young people to train in worship.   Every evening they would bless us with their music.   Being incredibly creative, they turned our empty water bottles into drums!   Everyone enjoyed their youthful spirit.

Our friends from Central Asia came the farthest, and have been basking in the fellowship of the Christian family.   Three countries of Central Asia are represented here this week.   Many of them shared that they had learned things that would help them better minister to the Muslim communities in which they live.   They face unusual challenges.   Please pray for them.

I do not want this note to be too lengthy.   However, wanted to share with you that God is doing great things and we give Him the glory.   We are so grateful that we have the opportunity to serve God in this part of the world.   On Wednesday evening we had a great season of prayer, where they laid hands on one another and prayed for each other's needs.   I was humbled by the faith of my brothers and sisters.

Prayer requests:
1)   Please pray for this Pastor's Conference -- that God will lead Dr. Deasley, and that His presence will speak to the needs of each Pastor/leader present.
2)   Please pray for our Field Education and Literature meetings to be held next week.
3)   Please pray for our new students at EuNC this year.   We have three new students attending (Max from Moscow First, Sasha from Volgograd, and Alec from Ukraine).   
4)   Please continue to pray regarding visas.   We get very mixed news regarding the visa situation.   There seems to be a quota on multiple-entry visas, by region.   Our workers in St. Petersburg have just been issued one-year multiple-entry visas and we praise the Lord!   Moscow still says they won't issue them, however, Davide and Linda just received one-year multiple-entry visas through our holiness association which is located in another region.   This is good, and bad.   It is good that they have the visas, the problem is that they must register in that region, within 3 days of arriving in the country.   This causes logistic difficulties.   Sunbergs must renew visas the 1st week of December.   We are still praying that the govt. will allow us 1-year multiple entry on our Moscow registration.   This would be the best solution!
5)   Please pray for our leaders in the Creative Access areas.   There are special needs in that area at this time.
6)   Please pray for wisdom on the field for ministering to alcoholics and drug addicts.   The need for rehabilitation centers is great and we are asking for God's wisdom, so we know how to minister to these people with these needs.   Many, many are coming to the Lord!

Just some other needs we'd like to share with you:
1)   We need many, many more work and witness teams on the Field in 2004.   Ukraine is in great need, as is St. Pete, Ulyanovsk, Moscow, the Youth Center, Volgograd, Rostov, Kazakstan and Armenia!   Please let us know if you'd be interested in bringing a group to one of these areas.
2)   The need for education and the response on the Field is great but we have a limited amount of resources.   We need sponsors for the young people at EuNC, at NTS, one that will soon begin Doctoral Studies, and all those studying on the Field.   We have an incredible program with great success but we really need help to continue what we are doing!

Thank you so much for your prayers!

The CIS Gang.